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Android Ransomware Threatens To Share Your Browsing History With Your Friends (symantec.com)

An anonymous reader writes: The newly discovered Lockdroid ransomware is unique in two ways. First it uses perfectly overlaid popups to trick users into giving it admin privileges. This trick works on devices running Android versions prior to 5.0 (Lollipop), which means 67% of all Android smartphones. Secondly, after it encrypts files and asks for a ransom, it also steals the user's browsing history and contacts list, and blackmails the user to pay the ransom, or his browsing history will be forwarded to his contacts.

3 of 160 comments (clear)

  1. Only affects users who sideload by tlhIngan · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you stick with Google Play, you're safe from this.

    It is only a problem if you side load apps from untrusted sources.

  2. Re:Dear friends and family... by mlheur · · Score: 1, Informative

    When I was young I used to do a lot of stupid things that I didn't want to get caught at, which usually involved a lot of lying.

    After getting caught in one such incident a wise young man taught me the only infallible way to never get caught - don't do it in the first place.

    I've tried to live by this ever since, and as best I can recall, I've not done anything in the past 15 years where I'd be worried if anyone found out.  Sure there are some things I wont volunteer, but if word got out I'd still stand by my actions or at least own up to them.

    Actually, thinking back, I have done things in the past 15 years where I didn't want to get caught, but I did anyways - so, whatever.

  3. Re:A good thing? by Coren22 · · Score: 1, Informative

    Apple is guilty of the same thing. In this case, it isn't Google doing anything of the kind, it is usually the carrier as they feel they HAVE to load their crapware on every phone.

    Apple and Google have pretty much the same support time frame.

    When iOS 8 shipped, the iPhone 4 was not supported anymore. That is 4 years.

    Google supports their Nexus line for 3 years.

    Most phone batteries frankly don't last past 2 years anyways, and as they aren't replaceable on most phones anymore, the phone lasts only as long as its battery. Expecting companies to support their products forever is naive at best.

    Here is a cute little comparison chart of Apple vs Google in support timeframes.

    http://lifehacker.com/this-cha...

    --
    APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?